High Cost; A Major Constraint For An Average Nigerian To Access Clean Energy. – The Alternatives.
“We all have the right to healthy living, make clean energy affordable for all”.
_ Victoria Edeha-Anthony
Cost remains a major barrier for Nigerians who want to switch from petrol-powered generators to solar-powered generators which can cost more than 10 times the monthly minimum wage
– Olatunji Olaigbe/Aljazeera
Mr. John, a mathematics teacher in a secondary school in Lagos, lives with his family of four in a one-bedroom apartment. The house is poorly ventilated and lacks an adequate power supply. He has a ” I pass my neighbour generator” which he used to power his fans, TV and bulbs, he ensured the generator runs through the night to keep the fans on, so his family can sleep well.
The fumes and the noise of the generator are the major challenges for him to study for his lessons, coupled with the cost of running the generator daily on his N40,000 monthly salaries.
He thought of buying a solar system to give his family the best source of power but the cost of acquiring a 1.5KVA full solar system which is about N450,000 was an impossible task for him to accomplish.
His question is – Is Solar Energy only for the wealthy?
The effects of global warming are felt by all, both the rich and poor, why can’t solar energy be affordable for all?
Why Most Nigerians Will Continue Using “I Pass My Neighbour”?
The Daily Trust reported that the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Environment has told Nigerians, especially those residing in the urban settlements, to stop using the two-stroke engine generators because of the danger their smoke poses to the environment and encourage people to patronize green sources of energy like solar.
An average Nigerian prefers to buy N500 worth of fuel daily for his “I pass my neighbor” generator to power light bulbs, fans, TV than to buy a solar system at an outright purchase. They felt it is easier to raise N500 and buy fuel a day than to save a huge amount of money (N450,000) to buy a solar system they are not sure of.
Even Small and Medium Scale Business Owners are not left, since they need a constant power supply to run their businesses. They considered solar system them as a luxury since it couldn’t power their Income-generating appliances such as Pressing Iron for a Laundry Man, Rework Station for a Phone Repairer, Hand and Hair Dryer for a Hair Dresser, Sewing and Weaving Machine for a Tailor, Towel Stretcher for Barbers, Freezers for Food Business owners. This makes the use of generators to be on the increase by SME’s in Nigeria.
Everyone Has To Start From Somewhere
What are your basic power needs? This is a question an energy service provider will always ask his client. The appliances are mostly Fans, TVs, Light Bulbs, Freezer, Pressing Iron. Instead of purchasing a complete solar system that is expensive, one can buy a solar-powered fan, iron, TV, freezer, etc…. but how reliable are these products, and how long will they last?
Are they cost-effective compared to the “I pass my neighbor” generator? Are they available in our local markets for one to buy? These are the questions asked by an average Nigerian.
Solar Energy Industries should provide affordable, reliable solar-powered appliances that an average Nigerian can purchase for homes and businesses so we can reduce our carbon footprint and save our environment from the adverse effects of climate change.